Former Bond girl Fiona Fullerton, who showed us her moves in eight weeks of Strictly Come Dancing last year, says that same-sex dancing would be a “stunning” addition to the show. “They did it on Dancing in the Stars in America and there was an element of equality, where they were both playing the same role,” she says. “I can’t see any reason why it should be a problem.”

Fiona Fullerton was a follower on Strictly - but says it's much harder to lead

While learning to dance, Fiona had the role of follower and she says any women who dance as a lead would face a far greater challenge.

“You have to be much more skilled to lead, and stronger, more accomplished. I’ve seen same-sex dancing together and it’s fantastic to watch,” she adds. “It’s about grace and control but it’s also about having a strong core so that you can do certain movements. If you’ve got two ladies dancing together, they’re going to be doing the same sort of movements.”

After all, says Fiona, Shakespeare was once performed by all-male casts - so why should we prevent dancers from taking on different roles?

“I think it would work brilliantly on Strictly. I think you’d be amazed how stunning it could be,” she says.

For the dancers who are currently fighting for their right to compete in mainstream competitions, a same-sex pairing on Strictly would certainly be a boost to their cause.

Bradley Stauffer-Kruse, who was a semi-finalist in 2012 Britain’s Got Talent for his dance performance with his husband, Sören, says that the public’s response was “overwhelmingly positive”. But he’s worried that Strictly is reinforcing the notion that dancing is about men partnered with women. “That’s not true. It’s important to show that dancing is for everyone,” he says.

Bradley says that dancing is a personal and often romantic experience. “I dance with Sören as my husband because that is who I am,” he says. “When you judge ballroom dancing, you consider the relationship and the harmony of the couple.”

By threatening to change the rules, Bradle says the British Dance Council is in danger of committing the worst dance crime of all: "It’s very out-of-step with everything else that’s happening," he adds.

TV sportscaster Gili Shem Tov and professional dancer Dorit Milman dance on the Israeli version of Dancing with the Stars

Dancer Heather Devine, who competes with her female partner Chrisi Lyons, says it would mean a great deal to see same-sex partners on Strictly.

“There are gay men in society who like to dance with each other, so why should they always be invisible? The history of dancing is about courtship, flirtation, romance. Look at all the films with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers—they’re romantic,” she says. “Given that there are men who are married to each other, why would they never ever be represented in dancing? Occasionally, it would just be nice to see them dance together.”

Heather started same-sex dancing when she was living with her partner, and the two decided to learn together. “Who wouldn’t want to dance with their partner?" she asks.

She learnt to lead and has competed as a leader on the dance floor for 11 years. Heather says she could follow a man socially, but not in a competition. “My whole identity on the floor is as a leader who shows off her beautiful follower. I can’t follow a man, I haven’t been taught how to do it and it’s outside of my identity as a ballroom dancer,” she adds.

And if same-sex dancing is outlawed from professional competition, many women would struggle to compete at all, because there are many more ladies in ballroom dancing than men. “The traditional world of ballroom dancing has all-ladies competitions. They’ll have two women in matching dresses in matching high heels dancing together - usually because there’s not enough men,” says Heather.

For same-sex ballroom dancers, it’s distressing that the British Dance Council would even consider a ban. But Heather says she won’t let any legal changes stop her from taking the lead on the dancefloor.